- Federal poverty level (household of 2)
- $21,660
- Your income as % of poverty level
- 286.2%
- Required contribution % of income
- 9.42%
- Your expected annual contribution
- $5,839
- Estimated monthly net premium
- $486.56
Net premium assumes you pick the benchmark silver plan. Choose a cheaper plan and you pay less; a pricier plan costs you the difference. Estimate only.
How the credit is calculated
Marketplace subsidies cap what you pay for the benchmark silver plan at a percentage of your household income that rises with income. Below roughly 138% of the federal poverty level depends on whether your state expanded Medicaid; at the top end the enhanced subsidies that ran through 2025 capped contributions at 8.5% of income, while the original statute restores higher percentages and cuts off help entirely above 400% of the poverty level.
Federal poverty level
The 2025 guideline is $15,650 for a household of one in the 48 contiguous states, adding $5,500 per extra person, with higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii. The 2026 figures used here are close estimates based on the usual inflation adjustment, so treat them as provisional until the official guidelines are published.
Important limits
This estimates the credit only, based on the benchmark premium you enter. Actual subsidies use the benchmark silver plan for your rating area and age, and are reconciled against your real income at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the 2026 result look so different?
The enhanced subsidies introduced in 2021 were temporary. Without them the required contribution percentages rise and households above 400% of the poverty level lose eligibility entirely, which is exactly why the two plan years produce very different numbers.
What income counts towards this?
Modified adjusted gross income — AGI plus certain deductions such as student loan interest — not gross pay. It includes the income of everyone in your tax household who is required to file.
Do I have to repay subsidy money later?
The credit is reconciled on your tax return. If your income turns out higher than estimated you may repay part of it; if lower, you receive the shortfall as a credit.